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Original poster

Anyone interested in joining a power-walking thread for New Year??

115 replies

Countingtheflocksbynight · 30/12/2008 19:25

There was a similar one last year for those valiant Mumsnetters who took part in Moonwalks. It was a thread where everyone reported progress (or not - as in my case latterly) trials, injuries and triumphs and gained a bit of motivation and support.

I just want to start walking for fitness again in the new Year (haven't even worked out my new regime yet - daily or thrice weekly) but just wanted to get the ball rolling.

Anyone interested?

OP posts:
Countingthegreyhairs · 14/01/2009 09:28

Oops sorry MadLentilEater!! What a twonk I am!! Can you tell that I am not totally sure what a Wii is tbh ? Lucky I haven't got one actually because it would probably calculate my age around the 87 yrs mark!!!

Well done for going out on another walk! I didn't go yesterday but will be going out today ...

Hope everyone else manages to grab a bit of time for themselves this week to pound the street or the park ....

Countingthegreyhairs · 16/01/2009 07:47

Well, I am off again today for a walk this lunch-time ... progress has been patchy as so far we are taking it in turns to be ill in the Counting household ...but hoping to do better from now on ...

How is everyone else doing?

bigTillyMint · 16/01/2009 15:07

Just found this thread - I am signed up for the Moonwalk this year, and I have started training

Is anyone else doing it?

Does anyone know what the training recommendations are? I feel a bit daunted at the thought of 26 miles in the night

Countingthegreyhairs · 16/01/2009 15:46

Hello and welcome BigTillyMint. Good for you for signing up!

I haven't done a Moonwalk yet but this was our thread last year and you may find some relevant info on it:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/470733-walkers-thread-those-training-for-a-moonwalk-or-those-jus t

If not, I'm sure Ellbell and others would be very willing to pass on their experiences

bigTillyMint · 17/01/2009 12:05

Thanks - have read through the thread - not sure if I feel more inspired or daunted

Do you have to walk with your arms (like when you run) when you power-walk? I find that feels really strange. Maybe I'm not going fast enough? I do about 4 miles an hour.

And my DS says I have to bum-wiggle too I don't think I do that either

So maybe I'm just walking, not power-walking? Does it matter?!

Countingthegreyhairs · 17/01/2009 14:13

lol BigTM - I think just walking is fine ...!! Although I'm speaking as someone who is coming from a position of being really sluggish and unfit to just starting to walk again .... I tend to just move my arms about when no-one is around to watch!!!

Seriously though, I think the main thing is just to keep walking at a certain consistent pace (too fast to hold a conversation comfortably) for a sustained period of time - between 35 - 50 minutes if you can ...

Good luck with it!

Countingthegreyhairs · 20/01/2009 15:13

Hellllooooooo!!! Is anyone out there??? How is everyone getting on?

How is the walking going now that the snow has disappeared?

I've done two walks this week (Sunday and Monday) so am feeling reasonably chuffed ... loads to do to get my fitness up to speed though ...

bigTillyMint · 21/01/2009 14:46

I'm here!

Trying to keep on walking - Doing about 5 - 6 miles twice a week, plus other stuff. We are going to aim for some longer walks soon.

Any recommendations for any gadgets or other stuff I should get

JammyQueenOfTheNewYear · 21/01/2009 15:01

Hello. I've only just seen this thread. I used to walk loads, and in 2006 I walked a marathon, then last year I trained up to walk a half marathon (the Bristol sun-walk) but had bad D&V a couple of days beforehand so had to pull out . Haven't done much walking since but want to get back into it. Not sure if I'd class myself as a powerwalker, but hope you don't mind me taggin along here?

A site I find good is www.gmap-pedometer.com/ If you use the more options link you can select the UK, then find the town/city/village/whatever where you are, hit "start recording" then trace out your route on the map and it will tell you how far, and if you are brave enough to turn on the calorie counter and put your weight in it will tell you how many calories you'll burn.

Countingthegreyhairs · 21/01/2009 21:23

Hello and welcome Jammy Queen!

We're on week three (if you want to follow link further up/down thread)

WEEK 3

Entry level Aim to add 2,000 steps to your baseline on five out of seven days.

NP Walk an extra 15 mins on top of your daily activity on five out of seven days, broken into two bouts if necessary. Make 3 mins of the total 15 mins at OWP.

Advanced level Aim to add 4,000 steps to your baseline on five out of seven days.

NP Walk for 25 mins continuously on top of your normal daily activity on five out of seven days.

We could do with having an experienced walker such as yourself around because it seems to have gone a bit quiet on here - congratulations on your 2006 marathon and what a shame about last year although all that preparation is certainly not lost in terms of fitness levels - thanks for gps link too!

Waves to Big Tilly Mint - well done on your weekly miles - not sure about gadgets other than pedometer, stopwatch etc ....perhaps Jammy Queen might know more ....

Keep on trooping along everyone ...

madlentileater · 22/01/2009 19:39

had a bit of a lapse but back now....walk yesterday, wiifit today.
ask me my wii age, go on

JammyQueenOfTheNewYear · 22/01/2009 21:26

OK then, what's your wiifit age?

I've only done 1 walk a week the past few weeks But I DO want to change this. I'm away this weekend, but will try very hard when I get back, especially if I don't do any while away.

I've never really used any gadgets. I've tended to do country walking so my list of important things to take would be mobile phone for safety, change of socks because sometimes my feet would just get SO wet and icky, map and map cover, water bottle, snack and daysack to put it all in. I did get a head torch after once getting lost and ending up coming home later than planned - although it was still daylight I realised that had it been a month later I'd have been out in the dark. I think that's the nearest I've got to gadgets.

madlentileater · 22/01/2009 23:10

34!!!!
Yes!!!!
(punches air)
only FIFTEEN years less than my real age

madlentileater · 25/01/2009 13:51

where is everyone?

JammyQueenOfTheNewYear · 25/01/2009 19:35

Well I've been away at my parents for the weekend. On Saturday I walked 2 miles, but split into 2 sections with a visit to a friend in between. On the way there it was slightly uphill and we were going at a pace where I could talk to my Dad but it was making me a little breathless (was OK coming home) so I think it was a fair pace. And walked an additional mile that night coming home from a rare night out too

Countingthegreyhairs · 26/01/2009 16:24

Hello everyone - sorry for radio silence - Hospital ward 10 here in the Counting household - just recovered from flu/cold/cough virus last week only for dd to come down with stomach bug Friday night - 'tis the season!! She's still at home now although much better ...

So my walking has been a bit sporadic .. although if all else fails I just leave the house at 10pm (once dh is home) and rush around the block 5 or 5 times which is better than nowt.

Well done MadLentilEater - you are getting younger by the minute!

And to you Jammy for not letting a w/e away interrupt your training routine ...

Where is everyone else I wonder?

Countingthegreyhairs · 26/01/2009 16:26

This is week 4 btw for anyone following this particular programme:

WEEK 4

Entry and Advanced level Repeat week three:

Entry level Aim to add 2,000 steps to your baseline on five out of seven days.

NP Walk an extra 15 mins on top of your daily activity on five out of seven days, broken into two bouts if necessary. Make 3 mins of the total 15 mins at OWP.

Advanced level Aim to add 4,000 steps to your baseline on five out of seven days.

No pedometer Walk for 25 mins continuously on top of your normal daily activity on five out of seven days.

At the end of week three, complete FWT again and record results.

Countingthegreyhairs · 26/01/2009 16:27

er that should have been 5 or 6 times ..

bigTillyMint · 26/01/2009 17:45

How long would it generally take to walk 1,000 steps? I haven't got a pedometer

madlentileater · 26/01/2009 18:33

poor you, CTGH.
how old is dd?- is she home (from school) or home from much farther away?
this is why I like the wii fit, I can do it without going out if circs dictate.

MrsMattie · 26/01/2009 18:35

Hey all. Haven't got a pedometer but have been walking minimum 60 mins a day and feeling GREART for it. I recommend getting out in all weathers, with buggy/kids if necessary. So good for the mind as well as the body. If i can do it 9 weeks post section, with a newborn and an extremely challenging boisterous 4 yr old boy, I reckon anyone can!

ThingsCanOnlyGetBetter · 26/01/2009 18:48

Hey can I join pleaseeee .

I have just started walking to help with depression and flab. I am very proud that I am now on Day6 and am walking into the town centre and back daily (about 5 miles and approx 9000 steps). My trusty pedometer is now my best friend!!

Am very unfit and quite (5 stone) overweight and my legs and back (strangely?) killed me for the first 3 days but have carried on (despite 2 days of getting absolutely soaked with chaffed thighs) and feel so much better already. Am going at a good pace and have shortened the time from 45 mins each way to 30 mins (as of today!), get very red faced though so try to hide if I see anyone I know. It helps walking into town as I need to be going somewhere, can't be doing with walking round aimlessly. I do it straight after the kids go to school and leave housework til after lunch otherwise I know my motivation would run away!

MrsMattie - well done for doing it with kids - the only reason I can do it now is that I'm off work and the kids are at school!!

MrsMattie · 26/01/2009 18:58

Well done to you, too@ThingsCanOnlyGetbetter!

I'm similar to you. Overweight, have bad back, struggled with depression in the past. I've found walking great on so many levels.

Keep it up! xx

JammyQueenOfTheNewYear · 26/01/2009 19:42

Hi TCOGB. I understand your situation. I am about 5 stone overweight. I lost 6 stone a few years ago through healthy eating and lots of exercise (mainly walking). I also felt that the walking helped with managing my depression and that in turn helped me eat more healthily so it was a very positive circle. Unfortunately I have fallen back into bad habits and put on weight and the depression is back (it's a chicken and egg situation my weight and depression) and I hope to take control again this year and hope that walking will help again.

ThingsCanOnlyGetBetter · 26/01/2009 20:02

Jammy - I know exactly where you're coming from. It is a chicken & egg situ - I have been depressed since I put on weight with my first DC and continued putting on weight because I was so depressed about it!! I also feel that it is helping with my eating as well, actually left 2 potatoes on my plate at dinner (highly unusual) as felt full!!

The reason I have taken up walking now is that pre-DC I put on (not as much as now) weight because I was too contented in a relationship but started a new job and had to walk about 2 miles each way and I remember that the weight came off without me really trying. Hoping it will happen again and actually really enjoying it (quite surprised that I look forward to it and feel that I have achieved something when I get home).